Tag: how

How EMDR Works

EMDR therapy tools on a calm office table showing how EMDR works for trauma, PTSD, nightmares, and sleep disruption

How EMDR Works By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess disturbing memories so they no longer feel as emotionally intense, threatening, or present in daily life. The memory is not erased. The goal is that the nervous system no longer reacts to the memory as if the danger is […]

How CBT-I Treats Chronic Insomnia

A calm adult in a therapy office learning how CBT-I treats chronic insomnia and sleep anxiety

How CBT-I Treats Chronic Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. How CBT-I treats chronic insomnia is practical: it changes the thoughts, behaviors, sleep schedules, and nervous-system patterns that keep insomnia going. It does not simply give you more sleep hygiene rules. CBT-I helps retrain the brain and body so the bed becomes associated with […]

How Hypervigilance Causes Sleep Problems and Insomnia

Hypervigilance and sleep problems shown by an anxious woman scanning a dim hallway, representing trauma-related insomnia and nighttime alertness

How Hypervigilance Causes Sleep Problems and Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Hypervigilance can cause sleep problems and insomnia because the nervous system stays on alert when it should be resting. A person may be physically safe in bed, but the brain and body may still be scanning for threat. This can lead to […]

How Changing Your Behaviors Changes Your Sleep

Woman waking up refreshed and energized after improving sleep through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and healthy sleep habits.

How Changing Your Behaviors Changes Your Sleep By Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. You might be wondering, is it true that changing your behavior can affect your sleep?  And the answer is “yes,” this result can be achieved by applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT includes changing thoughts and behaviors around health, sleep, anxiety, depression, etc. […]

Effects of Sleep Deprivation: How Sleep Disorders Affect Health

Effects of sleep deprivation on physical health, mental health, and daily functioning

Effects of Sleep Deprivation: How Sleep Disorders Affect Health By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. In my last post, I talked about the four main categories of sleep disorders. Let’s talk about the effects of sleep deprivation on your life. Sleep disorders can affect nearly every aspect of physical and mental health. The effects of […]

How to Help Insomnia: Focus on Solutions, Not Causes

How to help insomnia through practical questions and solutions written on a napkin beside a coffee mug

How to Help Insomnia: Focus on Solutions, Not Causes By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. How to help insomnia is one of the most common questions I hear from patients. Many people spend years searching for reasons they cannot sleep, hoping that understanding the cause will solve the problem. While insight can sometimes be helpful, […]